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Oregon sustainability pioneers push refillable glass bottles for beer and wine
Your browser does not support the audio element. When Matt Swihart started Double Mountain Brewery in Hood River, Oregon, in 2007, his vision was to sell beer in the most ecologically sustainable way possible: in reusable bottles, which would be returned, cleaned and refilled, to be sold again. He says it wasn’t a new idea at all — this was common for all kinds of beverages in the early 20th century. And it wasn’t even novel — in other countries, refillable beverage containers occupy a solid share of the market. Nevertheless the regional infrastructure didn’t exist, so the company started small and took its time. The game changed in 2018 when the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative partnered with Double Mountain to help develop standard refillable glass beer bottles that any brewery in the state could use.
Man accused of threatening Oregon federal judge appears in court
A man accused of threatening in 2022 to kill a federal judge in Oregon and injure three Portland police officers pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges in a four-count indictment. Steven Dawayne Willis, 37, faces two counts of threatening to retaliate against a federal judge and two counts of mailing...
Backers of wildlife road passages eye 4 sites on Hwy 20 in Central Oregon
A group of 18 organizations say they are one step closer to building four wildlife passages or crossings over Highway 20 in Central Oregon. As the region’s human population boomed in the last decade, a 35-mile stretch of road between Suttle Lake and Bend had some of the highest rates of deer and elk vehicle collisions in the state from 2010 to 2016, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Highway reopens as containment increases on Dixon Fire
DAYS CREEK, Ore. — Containment has increased to 4% on the Dixon Fire, thanks to the collaborative efforts of resources, officials said in a Thursday update. Overnight, crews secured tactical firing areas on the southern edge and installed hose lays along dozer line to assist with mop up near FSRD 1610, the 100-spur and 200 road. Acreage was also updated Thursday morning due to GPS and detailed mapping.
Guide Dogs for the Blind to celebrate official proclamation with milestone graduation
Guide Dogs for the Blind is celebrating a tail-wagging milestone: the 500th graduation at the Boring Campus. And the community is invited to attend the heartwarming ceremony (though be warned, tissues are recommended). The graduation will run from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, with tours of the amazing campus at 32901 S.E. Kelso Road, in Boring, to follow. The event will be filled with fun: graduating guide dog teams will...
Smoke causes unhealthy air quality across Southern Oregon, Northern California
OREGON & CALIFORNIA -- Wildfire smoke is causing unhealthy air quality across Southern Oregon. Air quality is unhealthy across Jackson County -- including Medford, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland and Jacksonville. Other parts of Jackson County and some parts of Klamath County have air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, while Josephine and Siskiyou counties have moderate air quality.
Oregon Braces for Thunderstorms: Forecast Predicts Weekend Storms Across Cascades
Portland, OR – The National Weather Service has issued a marginal risk of thunderstorms for northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington this Saturday, August 17. The NOAA NWS Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a 15-30% chance of storms, particularly over the Cascade Mountains. According to the forecast, these storms are...
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